Electrically operated timing device



Jan.- 26, 1932.

c. FAYER ELECTRIGALLY OPERATED TIMING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l VENTOR li/LZRVM ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1932. c, FAYER 1,842,596

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TIMING DEVICE Filed Aug. 4, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 'm! H? 11' v a b I v m m are.

ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1932. c. FAYER ELECTRICALLY OPERATED mum nsvxcn Filed A g- 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 &

INVENTOR filz yefi ATTORNEY h mhmwhr a Q R. Q fix J v 6,

Patented Jan. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE I CHARLES FAYER, F FLUSHING, NEW YORK, 'ASSIGNOR TO WAPILER ELECTRIC PANY, INC.,- A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK- ELECTRICALLY OPERATED TIMING DEVICE Application filed August 4, 1926. Serial No. 126,965.

My invention relates to electrically oper-.

ated timing devices for use in photography and arts associated therewith, for exposing sensitized plates or the like to the momentary action of light of any kind.

More particularly stated, my invention comprehends a timing device operatedin connection with an X-ray apparatus, and provided with means for predetermining the extent of X-ray exposure by controlling the number of electrical impulses allowed to energize said X-ray apparatus during the exposure.

My invention further comprehends operl5 ating the timing device in synchronism with alternating currents used for energizing the X-ray apparatus, the timing device being set beforehand by the operator so as to count off, within proper limits, the precise num- 29 her of electrical impulses determined upon for any given exposure, these impulses alone being used to energize the X-ray apparatus during said exposure.

My invention also contemplates the provision of means whereby the timing mechanism, in its control over the X-ray apparatus, is prevented from opening or closing certain circuits used in connection therewith, except when said circuits are totally de-energized and thus unable to set up undesirable sparking.

In addition my invention contemplates various improvements in timing mechanism and parts associated therewith, for improving the general efficiency thereof.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters indi- 4 cate like-parts throughout the several figures. Figure 1 is a side elevation of my timing mechanism and themeans for setting the same, together with a synchronous motor upon which these parts are mounted and whereby the timing mechanism is driven.

Figure 2 is a substantially central vertical section through the mechanism appearing in Figure 1. I

Figure 3 1s a plan view of the same. Figure 4 1s a side elevatlon of the mechaism usedby the operator for setting the timing device, certain parts being broken away. I

Figure 5 is a section on the line55 of Figure looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and showing-one form of con-- trollcr plate used as a part of my invention.

Figure 6 is adiagram showing. my. timing device and parts associated therewith, as used in connection with a synchronous rectifying switch. v

- Figure 7: is a diagram indicating the voltage curves of the secondary circuit of the high tension transformer, as modified by use of the synchronous rectifying switch and used with my invention.

F igure 8 is a diagram showing my invention as 'used upon an X-ray apparatus but without a rectifying switch. I

Figure 9 is a diagram indicating the voltage curves of the secondary circuit, when the ap-:

paratus is used as shown in Figure 8.

A synchronous motor is shown at 10, and is used for actuating 'most of the mechanism. Extending upwardly from" this motor are standards, one of which appears at 11, and carried by these standards is a platform 12.

Mounted upon the platform 12 is abearing 13 of cylindrical form. Extending upwardly from this bearing and revolubly driven by the groove 15.

Disposed adjacent the worm 14- are two posts 16 and 17, provided with slideways 18 and 19, the posts being so positioned that these slideways face each other, as indicated in Figure 8. 1

Fitting neatly but loosely into the two slideways 18 and 19 is a'slide 20, carrying a detent 21,0f proper form and size to fit into the spiral groove 15 of the worm 14. The slide is also provided with. an opening 22, as indicated in Figure 2. i

The posts 16 and 17 are provided with guide pins 23, 24, located within the slideways 18 motor is a worm 14, provided with a spiral and 19, and are further provided with presser springs 25, carried by pins 26 and brackets 27. The guide pins 23, 24 and the pressersprings 25 serve to guide the slide 20 in the execution of its movements, as hereinaftermore particularly described. The pressersprings 25 are mounted upon pins 26, these pins and the springs being carried by brackets 27. The slide carries guide lugs 28, 29, positioned as indicated in Figure 2.

Disposed adjacent the slide 20 and substantially parallel therewith is a presser disk 30, carried upon a thrust rod 31, for engaging the guide lugs 28, 29 and pushing the slide 20.

a slight distance to the left according to Figure 2. The thrust rod 31 extends loosely through a cylindrical bearing 32, supported upon a cross bar 32, the latter being mounted upon the posts 16, 17 as may be understood from Figure 3.

For the purpose of actuating the thrust rod 31 it is connected by a spring 33 with'a rocking armature 34, in this instance laminated and having the form of a bar, encircled by a band 35 of magnetic material, preferably soft iron or steel. provided with a heel seat 36. A pivot pin 37 extends through this heel seat and through the armature; Another pin 38 serves as a stop to limit the travel ofthe armature34, as-indicated in Figure 2. The two pins 37 and 38 arecarried by a frame plate 39, the latter being mounted upon a base plate 40.

For the purpose of actuating the armature I- use a magnet 41, provided with a winding 42 to which are connected wires 43, 44, leading to any convenient source of current under manual control such,'for instance, as a battery and push button, notshown.

The slide 20 carries a pair of arms 45 mounted rigidly thereupon and extending toward the left according to Figures 1, 2 and 3. Supported upon these arms is a block 46 of insulating material, carrying apair ofbrushes 47 48 and binding posts 49, connected with these brushes.

Leading to the binding posts 49 and 50 are two flexible conductors 51, 52, which may be cords, cables or spring Wires, and these two conductors are also connected to a pair of stationary binding posts 53, 54, mounted upon a base plate 55, as indicated more particularly in Figure 3. i

The flexible conductors 51, 52 have suflicient flexibility to allow the block 46 to move up and down and also to move slightly toward the right and left, all as indicated by full and dotted lines in Figure 2, and thus to carry the brushes 47 and 48 through a cycle of movements, as hereinafter more particularly demribed.

The base plate 55 carries a pair of screw bolts 56 extending upwardly from it,and these bolts are encircled by compression springs 57. Mounted loosely upon the bolts are two frame bars 58, 59, connected by spacers 60, the latter being secured in position by screws 61. The frame bars 58, 59 are provided with holes through which the bolts 56 extend, and the bolts are provided with threaded portions, one of which is shown at 62, which engage the The armature 34is also.

base plate 55. The frame bars and the spacers 60 together constitute a frame, which as a unit is slidable upon the bolts 56.

The bolts 56, 56 are also provided with large heads 63 whereby they may be turned by hand. When they are turned in one direction they press the frame downwardly, thus compressing the springs 57, but when the bolts are turned in the opposite direction they relax the pressure upon the springs and allow the frameto rise. 6

Located between the frame bars 58 and 59 is a controller plate 64, adapted to coact with the brushes 47, 48 and their connections, in order to open and close an electric circuit in accordance with movements of the brushes.

, The controller plate 64 is simply a block of conducting material, preferably metal, and having its edges so formed as to provide a number of contact faces 65, 66, 67, 68, 69 and 70. These faces, measured vertically, are of different widths, as eachface has a width coinciding with the thickness of the edge of the controller plate, and the latter has differ entthicknesses at its different edges. The face 65 is the narrowest and the face 66 is the widest, the other faces varying successively in width.

The controller plate 64 is mounted upon a setting shaft 71, which extends upwardly and carries at its upper end a milled head 72 whereby it may be turned by hand.

The controller plate 64 is provided upon its bottom with a number of indentations 7 3, and the frame member 59 carries a ball 75 and a spring 74 pressing the ball upwardly, the various parts being so formed and arranged that the ball can partially enter any one of the indentations. The operator by gasping the milled head 72 and turning it rather slowly can so turn the controller plate 64 as to lodge it in any one of a number of definite positions, and when so adjusted it is held by the ball 75. This ball therefore acts as a pawl, and renders the controller plate quite stable in any of the several positions into which it is set. In any one of those positions it presents one of its faces 65 to 70 in a favorable position to be engaged by the two brushes 47 48. The controller plate thus arranged is not liable to develop lost motion.

The controller plate 64 is essentially a contact member, and as such coacts with the brushes 47, 48. The controller plate is in practice turned and set by means of the milled head 72, as above described, so as to expose one of the contact faces 65, 66, 67, 68, 69 or 70, toward the contact brushes 47, 48, as may be understood from Figure 3.

This done, when the brushes are moved as hereinafter described they make a momentary contact with the controller plate, the duration of the contact being dependent upon the width of the particular face of the controller plate which has been selected for exposure to the brushes. The circuit thus closed controls the X-ray apparatus, as hereinafter de scribed. The operator,by turning the milled head 72 and thus setting the controller plate as above described, thus controls the duration of the period of activity of the X-ray circuit.

I will now describe how the movement of the brushes 47, 48'is brought about, and how various other parts co-relate with the brushes.

' Since the brushes and parts supporting the same are carried upon the slide 29, the movements of the slide are used for actuating the brushes.

The slide 20, loosely located between the posts 16 and 17 and extending into the slideways 18 and 19, has considerable play rela tively to its mountings, as indicated by full and broken lines in Figure 2. Normally it rests idly upon its lower end and thus occupies its lowermost position, as indicated by full lines in Figure 2. From the position here indicated it can be pushed to the left by a movement of the presser disk 30, however, so that the detent 21 is forced against the worm 14, and thereupon the worm, which rotates continuously, engages the detent and quickly raises the slide to its uppermost position, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 2. Thus the slide is forced against the springs 26, which thereupon guide the slide obliquely upward and a little to the right according to this figure, so that the slide clears the guide pins 23 and 24. This frees the slide from the worm 14, and thus freed it drops back by its own weight into the position indicated for it in full lines in Figure 2.

The movement of the presscr disk 30 to the left according to Fi 'ure 2 is due to th action of the armature 34 when the magne 41. is energized by means of its winding 42, and this step is in turn due to closure of a circuit under control of the operator and by means of the leads 43 and 4 The magnet 41 is not essential, as any other convenient means may be used for momentarily forcing the presser disk 30 to the left according to Figure 2.

I wi l next refer briefly to the X-ray mechanism, and explain how the same connected with my timing device.

Referring to Figure'tl a transformer 76, serving as a main transformer of the X-ray system, is provided in the usual manner with a primary winding 77 and a secondary winding 78, and the secondary winding is connected with a rectifying switcn 79 by means of conductors 80, 81. From the rectifying switch two conductors 82, 88 lead to the X-ray tube, shown at 84. The rectifying switch 79 is driven by a synchronous motor 85, in the manner well known.

A polarity indicator is shown at 86. and is designated by an appropriate legend. A pair of leads are shown at 87, 88, and are connected with an alternating current line, as indicated in Figure 6 by a legend. The lead 87 is also connected with the primary winding 77 and is provided with a switch 91 for throwing the transformer 76 into and out of action. The primary winding 77 is by means of a rheostat 90 and a conductor 92 connected with the binding post 54.

When the controller plate 64 makes contact with the brushes 47 and 48, the primary circuit of the main transformer may be traced as follows: Lead 87, binding post 53, wire 51, binding post 49, brush 47, controller plate 64, brush 48, binding post 50, wire 52, binding post 54, wire 92, rheostat 90, primary winding 77 of main transformer 76, switch 91, lead 88 to source of alternating current, not shown, thence back to lead 87.

The circuit just traced energizes the main transformer 76, the secondar I circuit of which may be traced as follows: Secondary winding 78, wire 80, rectifying switch 79, conductor 83, Xray tube 84, conductor 82, rectifying switch 79 and wire 81, back to secondary winding 78.

The circuit just traced is the high tension circuit which energizes the X-ray tube, and is the circuit which is controlled by my timing device.

The rectifying switch 79, driven in the usual manner by the synchronous motor 85, so roctifies the secondary currents as to produce discharges of unitary direction through the X-ray tube or in other words the secondary currents have the form indicated in Figure 7.

Suppose that in setting the controller plate 64 the face thereof be the one placed in proximity to the brushes 47, 48, as indicated in Figure 6. This means that whenever the brushes are thereafter moved upwardly they wipe against this face. Suppose further that the current employed be of sixty cycles per second, and that the various parts of the mechanism be so proportioned, and the contact of the face 7 0 so apportioned, that two complete current cycles take place while the brushes are in wiping contact with the face 70. The effect is, that each time the brushes engage the face 70, or in other words each time the slide 20 executes the cycle of movements indicated for it by full and broken lines in Figure 2, the circuit through the primary winding 77 is twice energized and deenergize il, and that four secondary discharges of unitary direction thus take place through the X-ray tube.

By so setting the controller plate 64 that any selected one of its faces 65, 66, 67, G8, 69, 70 is brought adjacent the brushes, it follows that each time the slide 20 executes its cycle of movements, the X-ray tube is subjected to two, twelve, ten, eight, six or four discharges, as the case may be, of unitary direction; the number of the discharges being dependent upon the relative area of the particular contact face employed, and the primary circuit remaining open and inactive except when the brushes make their wiping contact with that face.

It will thus be seen that the operator, in so setting the controller disk 64 as to expose any particular face thereoi to the path of travel of the brushes 47 and 48, predetermines the number of cycles which will take place during the interval while the brushes engage the controller plate, and this means that whenever the controller plate is set at all it is set for some particular number of discharges. Under the conditions here contemplated a given exposure of a photographic film or the like to action of the X-ray tube is an exposure to a predetermined number of X-ray discharges rather than an exposure lasting for a predetermined time interval.

However, in practice it is co venient to re for to the time interval rather L an to the number of discharges, and if his reason l point out the relationship between the time intervals represented by the several faces of the controller plate and the number or: dis charges passing through the tube, for dil' ferent exposures.

If the line currents used be of sixty cycles per second, the discharges taking place through the X-ra tube whenever any face of the controller plate is engaged by the brushes 47 and 48 are at the rate ct one hundred and twenty per second. There'tore a setting of the controller plate for twelve di charges through the X-ray tube may be considered as a setting for an exposure for onetenth of a second; and similarly a setting oi'- the controller plate for two, four, six, eight or ten discharges through the X-ray tube may be conveniently considered as a setting for 160, 130, l-20, l15, or l-12 of a second. For the protection of th syuichrouous motor 85, a resistance 100 is inserted in series with it, as indicated in Figure 6.

In instances where a discharge of unitary direction through the X-ray tube is required, and for any reason it is not desirable to use a rectifying switch or to depend upon any valve action of the tube for the necess ry rectification, l employ the mechanism shown in Figure 8.

Here the secondary winding 78 or" the main transformer 76 is connected by wires 80 and 81 directly with the X-ray tube 84, and in this form of my invention the controller plate has the form indicated at 93. That is, it is built up of separate sheets 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99 of metal or other con zlucti material, its construction otherwise bein f like that of the controller plate 64, above described.

The sheets 94 to 99 inclusive are so proportioned and arranged, and so spaced apart, that when the brushes 4'? and wipe across them, the circuit through the primary is open during the intervals While the brushes are not in actual engagement with any of the sheets, so as to suppress every other pulsation of current through the primary winding of the main transformer. The result is, that in the secondary circuit through the X-ray tube all of the pulsations are of unitary direction.

The operation of my invention may be readily understood from the foregoing description.

The controller plate being set for a particular number of Xray discharges, the operator simply energizes the magnet 41 by closing the circuit through the winding 42. The magnet 41 therefore attracts the armature 34, and the resulting movement of this armature causes the thrust rod 31 to move the presser disk 30 to the left according to Figure 2.

T he slide 20 is thus moved to the left according to Figure 2, so that the detent 21, carried by it, is brought against the worm 14, which is rotating rapidly.

It may happen that the detent 21, in lodging against the worm 14, is not in registry with the groove 15. This is in practice immaterial, because as the worm rotates it will quickly bring some portion of the groove into exact registry with the detent, and the detent will thereupon extend into the groove. The continued rotation of the worm now quickly lifts the slide 29 to the upper limit of its travel, as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 2, so that the slide engages the springs 25, and is thereby forced a little to the right, clearing the pins 23 and dropping back into normal position as indicated by full lines in Figure 2.

The upward movement of the slide brings the brushes 47 and 48 into contact with the controller plate 64 or 93, whereupon the X-ray tube is subjected to the number of discharges predetermined as above explained.

lVith the apparatus in the condition just described any number of exposures to the action of the X-ray tube may be made by simply closing the circuit through the winding 42 l or each exposure.

It a dillerent number of discharges through the X-ray tube be required, or in popular speech if a time r-zposurc of difi'erent length be required, the controller plate set accordingly, and the magnet 41 is again energized.

The frame bars and 59 and their connections, shown more particularly in Figure 4, se we not only as a frame for housing the conplate as above described, but also as a. u ans for adjusting the controller plate relatively to the brusies 47, 48 which at times engage the same.

The brushes 47 and 48, in making and breaking contact with the controller plate, are liable to produce undesirable sparking unless the contact is made and broken at moments when the current is at zero value.

To prevent this undesirable sparking,

therefore, I adjust the height of the controller plate relatively to the height of the brushes in their normal position, and this I do by turning the bolts 63. Thecontroller plate is from time to time adjusted to such precise level that when the brushes 47 and 48 engage it, and when they disengage it, no current is flowing. By this arrangement the currents flowing through the brushes and energizing the primary Winding of the main transformer are bound to act as so many complete currents, eachrepresenting half a cycle, executed in its entirety from zero value to zero value.

I find that in practice it is an easy matter not only to avoid sparking as just descriocd, but to set the controller plate that the X-ray tube is energized with absolute certainty, for a predetermined number of times, and that as a result the exposure is definite and clean-cut.

While I show my timing device as in this instance adapted for use in X-ray work, I do not limit myself thereby, the scope of my invention being commensurate with my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I. claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In an electrically operated timing device the combination of an X-ray tube, a high tension transformer for energizing said X-ray tube, an alternating current line, electrical connections from said line to said transformer for energizing said transformer, contact mechanism included in said electrical connections for the purpose of controlling said transformer, a synchronous motor connected with said alternating current line and driven by power therefrom, gearing connected with said synchronous motor comprising a worm connected with said motor and driven thereby, mechanism provided with a detent for engaging said worm, said last mentioned mechanism being connected with said contact mechanism for actuating the same and being adapted to be driven by said worm, and setting mechanism controllable by the operator and adapted to be connected with said contact mechanism for predetermining the number of current impulses to be supplied to the transformer.

2. In an electrically operated timing device the combination of an Xra-y tube, a high tension transformer for energizing said X-- ray tube, an alternating current line, electrical connections from said line to said transformer for energizing said transformer, contact mechanism included in said electrical connections for the purpose of controlling said transformer, a synchronous motor con nected with said alternating current line d driven by power therefrom, a worm connected with said motor and driven thereby, mechanism provided with a detent for engaging said worm, said last mentioned mechanism being connected with said contact mechanism for actuating the same and adapted to be drlven by said worm, setting mechanism controllable by the operator and adapted to be connected with said contact mechanism for predetermining the number of current imtrical connections from said line to said transformer, for ci'iergizing said transformer, contact mechanism included in said electrical connections for the purpose of controlling said transformer, a synchronous motor connected with said alternating current line and driven by power therefrom, a. worm drive for enabling said synchronous motor to actuate said contact mechanism, and mechanism adapted to be connected with said contact mechanism and controllable by the op erator for advancing or retarding the action of said contact mechanism relative to current phases of the line.

l. In an electrically operated timing device the combination of an Xray tube, a hi h tension transformer for energizing said ray tube, an alternating current line, electrical connections from said line to said transformer for the purpose of energizing said transformer, contact mechanism includ ed in said electrical connections for the purpose of controiling said transformer, a synchronous motor connected with said alternating current line and driven by power therefrom, a worm connected with said motor and driven thereby, a slide disposed adjacent said worm and connected with said contact mechanism for the purpose of opening and closing said ciectrical connections, said slide carrying detent for engaging said worm, means controllable by the operator for shifting said slide toward said worm to bring said detent into engagement with said worm and thus cause said worm to actuate said slide and cause said contact mechanism to throw said transformer into and out of action, and mechanism adapted to be connected with said contact mechanism and controllable by the operator for predetermining the number current impulses to be supplied to the transformer when thrown into action by said contact mechanism.

5. In an electrically operated timing device the combination of an X-ray tube, a hi h tension transformer for energizing said ray tube, an alternating current line, elec rical connections from said line to said transformer for the purpose of energizing said transformer, contact mechanism included in said elect-rical connections for the pur =po'se of controlling said transformer, a synchronous-motor connected with said alternating current line and driven by power therefrom, a Worm connected WlthSELlCl motor and driven thereby, a slide disposed adjacent said Worm and connected with said contact mechanism for the purpose of opening and closing said electrical connectlons, said shde carrying a detent for engaging sa1d Worm,

and means controllable by the operator for shifting said slide toward said Worm to bring said detent into engagement With said worm 'and thus cause said Worm to actuate said slide and cause said contact mechanism to throw said transformer into and out of ac- Signed at Long Island City in the county of Queens and State of New York, this 29th (11 fJ l 1926. I 0 ay 0 u y,

CHARLES FAYER. 

